frame bending questions

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 5, 2009, 10:59 pm

well got the front clip off my uni today and discovered frame slightly bent from an accident, not too bad .
it drives straight down the road.
truck was hit or hit something with drivers front corner that side frame is ok but the pass side is pushed over that way a bit so only 2 bumper bolts fit in the bracket.

the bend is forward of the crossmember between it and the bumper bracket i am thinking a little heat and pull will straighten it out better?

36truck · Post by **36truck** » November 5, 2009, 11:20 pm

2 big trees a big chain & a come a long & a BIG hammer.

don morris II · Post by **don morris II** » November 5, 2009, 11:27 pm

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » November 5, 2009, 11:54 pm

Park it near one of those killer trees you got there,Ice.

That should do it.

bluebolt · Post by **bluebolt** » November 6, 2009, 12:35 am

36truck wrote:2 big trees a big chain & a come a long & a BIG hammer.

I am not sure if I would trust Ice's tree's, probably have both of them fall down on the truck.

64 f100 · Post by **64 f100** » November 6, 2009, 7:25 am

Hey man, don't be dissing nobodies trees.

Seriously, these fames are soft metal, and bend fairly easy. The heat and bend method will most likely work just fine. As to cold bend, it would be harder to get it just right, without heating the top and bottom parts of the frame, can be done with a good maul though.

Rich

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » November 6, 2009, 8:26 am

I agree with the heat and hammer and a tree but please PLEASE check the trees ability to stay upright first.
Keep the tape measure handy every few hits to make sure you don't go too far.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » November 6, 2009, 11:36 am

[quote="Brian Taylor"]I agree with the heat and hammer and a tree ......quote]

That's how I plan on straightening out a frame horn on my 66. Well, I'll probably use a steel column or a come along.

61 Merc · Post by **61 Merc** » November 6, 2009, 12:33 pm

36truck wrote:2 big trees a big chain & a come a long & a BIG hammer.

But he lost one of the trees the other day, any other ideas?

Brian, I would also check how square the rest of the frame is, it may all need to be tweeked some. If it is just from the crossmember forward, I would do as what has been said.

Dean

jwh f-100 · Post by **jwh f-100** » November 6, 2009, 12:41 pm

YOU GUYS, HE HAS HIS OWN WRECKER!!! SAVE THE TREES...

The wrecker. a comealong, & BFH. Hot wrench only if needed...

Tech · Post by **Tech** » November 6, 2009, 3:38 pm

brian
My uncle straightens beams with a shrinking process using a torch and a wet towel. It takes several small steps or passes and the end result is very clean. He applies a little heat to the compressed area and a lot of heat to a small area on the stretched side (cherry red) then quenches it with the wet towel. The cherry red spot contracts then you move down the beam a little bit and do it again. watch out for steam burns!
tech

maxpower · Post by **maxpower** » November 6, 2009, 4:52 pm

i would just use a torch and a ratch strap. heat up where the bend is and go slow. when you think it is straight go just a hair past, when you let the tension off the strap the frame will flex back a tad.

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » November 6, 2009, 5:48 pm

A porta power should work on the front frame horns.

don morris II · Post by **don morris II** » November 6, 2009, 6:45 pm

just get my wife to stare at it it will straighten out fast

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 6, 2009, 10:44 pm

bunch of tree jokes i see.

earlier i wondered if it would not be easier and less time tojust cut that piece off another truck and weld on?
its not like i have any problem finding frame pieces.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » November 6, 2009, 11:14 pm

I thought about doing that myself. I'm still a welding novice so I decided to go with straightening mine.

jammck66 · Post by **jammck66** » November 6, 2009, 11:35 pm

agreed, frame bending was relativley easy in the three shops I used to work in, two had frame machines, (big help to you I know LOL) and the other had just a torch, chains and a porta-power.
its so amazing at how much can be done with just a torch and a porta-power.
it'll work for sure, 'specially if tis just a minor "tweak" in the front 1/4 of the frame.

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » November 7, 2009, 9:48 am

don morris II wrote:just get my wife to stare at it it will straighten out fast

LOL! sounds like my EX-wife!

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » November 7, 2009, 6:13 pm

If I had another frame section lying around, I would be tempted to cut and weld. You could even bolt up the bumper/bracket and clamp it all in place.

But applying heat and bending it back should work too. I've found out that the steel these frames are made with will bend pretty easily...

frame bending questions

frame bending questions

Trees